Cold conditions might persist till Jan 21 but with low intensity

The cold wave conditions in many places across North India have plummeted below 5 degrees centigrade

The current cold wave conditions which started from Monday could reach its peak in the next 3-4 days before subsiding marginally.

The cold conditions could thereafter prevail till January 21 over most parts of the country but with lower intensity, meteorologists said today.

The cold wave conditions, which started Tuesday onwards, has seen temperatures in many places across North India plummet below 5 degrees centigrade and could continue till January 16.

"Cold wave to severe cold wave very likely over at a few places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and cold wave at a few places over Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and interior Odisha during next 2-3 days," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its weekly update released today.

However, the minimum temperatures very likely to be below normal till over most parts of the country till January 21, while over North India they are likely to above normal from January 22-26, the met added.

An extended cold conditions particularly over North and Central India should help in proper growth of wheat, mustard and chana crop.

But, much would also depend upon the weather conditions in February and March before any estimate on final harvest could be made.

Till last week, wheat, which is the biggest rabi crop, was sown in 30.31 million hectares of land which is 7.62 per cent more than the same period last year. While the area covered under mustard and wheat was also higher.

"The severe cold wave conditions could persist for few more days as another western disturbance is projected to hit the hills in he next 48 hours," Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at private weather forecasting firm Skymet told Business Standard.

He said thereafter the temperatures would subside and the severity seen this week might not happen anymore this year.

"The minimum temperatures could stay above 6 degree Celsius after January 16 as another round of snowfall is expected around January 25-27 but of much lesser intensity as compared to the current spell," Palawat said.

Last week less than 5-degree minimum temperature were recorded at most places over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on almost all the days; over Uttarakhand on many days; and over Punjab; Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi; Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh on one or two days of the week.

The lowest minimum temperature in the plains of -0.5?C was recorded at Narnaul (Haryana) on January 11.